Safety mechanism for street car and door operation



Nov; 13, 1923. 1,691,729

I G. w. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION FiidAug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MIMIIIIIIIIP ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1928.

v G. W. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION FiledAug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTwOR W 'W* Nov. 13, 1928.

G. w. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION FiledAug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet nun Nov. 13, I928.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET.CAR AND DOOR OPERATION 1,691,729 G. w.MEYERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1919 Wye .QI DHJ) INVENTORPatented Nov. 13, 1928.

1 UNITED STATES.

PATENT QFFICE-I;

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEYERS, or RACEWAY, Nnw annsuy, As'sIeNoRToj ATIoNAr.

rNEuM'ATIc COMPANY, or NEW YO N. Y.,A oonroR 'rIoN or wnsr VIRGINIA.

SAFETY MECHANISM non STREET oAnj-ANn noon orERA'r oN.

Application filed August 20, 1919. SerialNo. 318,774."

This invention relates to safety mechanism for street and other railwaycar and dooroperationv The object of the invention is to provide meanswhereby the doors of a street or other railway car cannot be openedwhile the car is under headway, whether under power protrolling theClICllltOf the relay magnet.

pulsion or coasting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism toprevent operation of the motormans controller Whenever a door of the caris opened. p A further object of the invention is to provide a lockingmechanism to prevent the operation of the doors byeither the motorman orthe conductor as long as the car is under headway.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in a control andlocking system of the character referred to which enables temporaryoperation of the doors for emergency use whether the car is underheadway or not.-

Further objects of the invention will ap- I circuit arrangement employedin carrying, out my invention as applied to the controlof the motormanscontroller and of the door switches of a street car. I

Fig. 2 is a view showing more specifically the centrifugal circuitbreaker operated by or from the car propelling motor and a lockingdevice with a relay magnet controlling the circuit of the latter, thecircuit of the relay device being controlled by the centrifugal circuitbreaker.

Fig. 3 is a VlG-W illustrating the application of a-lock mechanismemployed in connection with my invention asapplied to the motormans doorcontrol stand.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view oft-he construction shown in Figure 3. i

Fig. 5 is a view similar to'Figure-3 showing the application of a lockdevice employed in connection with my invention as applied to aconductors-door controlstand.

. conductors, control lock box to stand. r

direction of the arrows.

-, Fig. 6 is abrokenviewin side elevation showing the construction forsecuring the Fig.,7' is a face View with parts .-broken out showlnga'construction of acentrifugally operated circuit breaker employed :forcon- F ig. 8 is a broken detail view in section on the line 8'8 ofFigurefllooking in the Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section on the"line 99 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a'view in vertical section showits supporting 3 ingthestructure of the lock mechanism em-' 7 ployed in connection with myinvention.

Fig. 11 is a broken detail view similar. to Figure 10 showingsomewhatm-ore clear-' ly the structure of the lock mechanism.

Fig. 12 isa broken detailview on the line 1212 of Figure-2,'lookingin-the direction of the arrows. a Fig. 13 is a detail in part similar toFig. 11 showing the inclinedsurface onthe king bolt reversed. I p

The same partis designatedv by the same reference numeral wherever itoccurs throughout the several views...

In thepresent method of street car, operation and door control it isfrequently. possible. A for passengers or others to open the car doorswh le the car isunder headway whether from its propelling power'or fromcoasting down-, I grade- The result is that danger is incurred ofaccident and injury through. the opening of the doors While the car isin motion. i It is among the special-purposes of my present' ine",vention to provide a system of control which,

while permittingopening of the doors temporarily, or under emergencyconditions, prevents the doors from operating under normal" operation solong as the car is under head- Way. In carrying out-my invention Iemploy lock devices for the control stands through, which the dooroperations may be controlled by either the motormanflorthe conductor onthe car and I alsolprovide alocking -mecha--' nism; for the motormans.control stand 1. through which control of the propelling mo- 7 tor isedected. These-locking devices are, or I 'may be, of the same structureand therefore description of the one will apply equally to j vice iscontrolledelectrically by devices, the

, circuits ofwhich are in turn controlled by a by the propelling motororotherwise; the es sential feature being that so long as thecar is underheadway the centrifugal circuit breaker prevents the completion of thecircuit of the relay magnet throughwhich the cir cuitslof the-controllocking magnets pass. I A convenient and simplearrangement is, shown.wherein't-he' centrifugal circuit breaker is intended to be operated bya car propellingmotor and for'this purpose and to illustrate theprinciples involved, the centrifugal 'circuit breaker is shown asconnected tothe motor shaft to be: operated whenever the motor" shaftis=in rotation, whether such rotation is ffected by the supplyofoperating currentto the motor. or to the gearing which connects Ithrough the controller lock magnet at- 20,

themotor shaft-to the car axles.

A locking system of the nature referred'to is also, in accordance withthe principles of L'my invention, connected upwith the dooroperationsinisuch manner that door'controlledswitches also control the circuits ofthe controller lock sothat the lock cannot be released untilthedoor'sare closed. V. v

Referring to the general layout of a lock and control system embodyingmy invention as illustrated in Figure 1, reference numeral 14 designatesthe car propelling motor-and" 15 the motor shaft. To the latter isconnected "acentrifugal circuit breaker deviceindjicated generally byreference numeral 16. Therelay imagnet which controls the circuits ofthe lockmagnets isindicated'at 17 ,the circuit of said relay magnetbeing controlled by the centrifugal circuit breaker-16 "and also whendesired for temporary or'emergency "operation by a push button switchdevice indicated generally at 18. Reference numeral 19 desig- Hates themotormans propelling motor controller and QO a lock device therefor. 21designates a lock device for the door controlsys tern which is. operablebythe motorman. 22

. designates the :lock device .for theconductors door .controlstand23. Acaris diagrammatically indicated at 24 having the doors 25 and I controlswitches indicates generally at 26,27

in circuits which include the magnet of the motorrnans propellingcontrol lock. The operation generally, before proceeding with a specificdescription of the structure, as follows:As long as the car hash'eadwaya cent-rifugal circuit breaker 16 maintains the. circuitof-=relay magnet17-open 'andas long as the-relay magnet 17' is de-energized a switchdevice :28.controlled thercby remains open;

This switch device28 is included in the current supply connections forall of the locks so that-the lock magnets remain de-energized while Ithecircuitis open.. This condition obtainsias long as the.centrifugal'circuit breaker device 16 remains'inoperation, that.

to-be opened so long; as the car is;.-in motion,

excepting by the. special push button described above. The motorcontroller lock, on the other hand, because of the reversal of theinclined surface on the-'- king belt, as described below, remainsunlocked while its WVhen, therefore, 'thecar comes to'rest, and thecentrifugal cirmagnet is de-energized.

cui't breaker 16 is permittedto complete the circuit of the relay magnetthereby 'olos-"- ing the'switch 28,- and energizing the magnets of thevarious door locks, the-doorcontrol locks may be operated and the doorsopened.

WVhen the-doors are opened, the pushdisconnecters at 26' and 27 wi'llcl'ose the-circuit thereby energizing the same to lock the controlleragainst movementso that thefcar can'- not be started While any of thedoors remain open, I lVhen, therefore, all the doors are-1 closed, andlock 20 becomes unlocked, con-' troller 19 maybe manipulated for normaloperation; I I

The push disconnectors26'and 27' diagram-1 matic'ally" shown in Fig.l'are normallyheld" closedby the spring arm, but when the doors 25 nowshown in, open position are closed,

they push against the arms of said disconnectors and open the contactpoints by overcoming the 'force of the spring arin thereby accomplishingtheresultjustset-forth. i

I will first describe the constructionofthe centrifugal circuit breaker,particular refer ence being had to Figures 2, 7, 8 and-12. This breakerincludes an annular member 29 composed of complementary sectionsp'laccd'fiatwise against each other and suitably bolted" together. Uponthe opposing'faces of these members 30, 31 arel lormed chambers. withinwhich are received rings 32, 3 0i suitable insulating material such, forexample, as bakeare formed with complementary recesse s,

lite. On their'opposed faces th'e rings32, S 3 I at Placed within eachofthe spherical recesses 34; is a ball'35.

The r1ngs32, 33011 I compass a ring 36 of insulating material} which isformed w1th a portion orsannular' rib 37, which separates from eachother-two conductorrmgs 39, 40, which latter respec. tively extend intothe spherical'recesses 34a distance sufficient for the balls 35 or someone or more of them to contact therewith when the centrifugalbreaker-device is standing still. The conductor ring 40 is grounded'in I'any*suitable or convenient manner, ZLS-fOlllH- stance, through aconnection 38*to the frame of themotor. To the other conductor ring i uJ 1s connectedaconductor ilwhich s 1n electricalconnection in anysuitable or convenient pin 44 (see Figure 12) havinga spherical head 45which projects beyond the outer end of the block 42. The block 42 isprovided with a hole or opening therethrough, through which extends aconductor 41 to make electrical contact with the pin 44. The projectingend of the pin 44 receives a boss 46 which is formed with a concave seatin which the ball 45 is seated and is held by means of a cap 47 formedwith a co-operating hemispherical recess or -seat therein. The boss 46forms part of a hanger for a dependent weight 48'. To the boss 46 isconnected one terminal of the circuit connection for relay-magnet 17.The other terminal of said relay magnet circuit .isconnected to acurrent source such, for ex ample, as a battery indicated at 49 inFigure 1. When the relay magnet 17 is energized its armature actuatesaprojecting member 50 to bridge the contacts 51, 52, whichcontacts are;,included in the current supply connections for all of the lockmagnets.

use operation of the centrifugal circuit breaker device is as follows:Whenever the car is under headway the balls 35 are thrown bycentrifugal action radially outwardly so as to befree and clear ofcontact with the con ductor strips or rings 89, and, consequentlythecircuit of the relay magnet 17 is mainp 39, 40at one ormore points.These balls in" breaker is revolving. centrifugal circuit breaker comesto rest, that tainedopen as long as the centrifugal circuit When,however. the

is, when the'car loses its headway, one or more of the balls 35 willgravitate into POSllZlQIllZO close the'circuit between the conductorrings completing the circuit of the relayv magnetthereby energize saidmagnet and'operate the switch device 28, causing the bridge member tobridge the space between contacts 51 and 52, thereby completing thecurrent supply circuits the locking devices. a

I will now describe the construction of one of the locking devices, itbeing understood that the structure of the locking devices is the samewhether for the motormans propelling motor controller or door controlleror for the conductors door controller except that the inclined surfaceon thefking bolt is reversed in the motormans controller motor lock, asis shown in Fig. 13. In this connection reference is had to Figures 9,10, 11 and 13. Carried by the controller shaft 53 is a cam wheel or discindicated at 54 formed in its peripheral edge with a seat or depression55 adapt.-

ed to receive a projection 56 on the-end of a1 king bolt 57. The kingbolt 57 is mounted to a slide, in the lock casing 58 on suitable guidesformed in the lock casing. Connected to the king'bolt is a cross piece59, to the ends of which are connected tension springs 60, the.

other ends of said springs being anchored as at 61; in the casing. I Thetension of the springs exerted upon the king bolt 57 tends to pro,-jec-t the locking end 56 thereof against the peripheral edge of thewheel or-disc 54 on the shaft of the controller and into the seat 5fformed therein whenever the. seat is in position to receive the same;This POSitlOll; determines the off pOSltlOilOfdlllG carpropelling motoras wellas the off position of the door control shaft with the doors intheir closed position. The king bolt 57 islongitudinally.slottedbothvertically and horizontally and extendingtransversely throughthehori zontal slot indicated at 62is a stud 63which is fastened at its ends in the casing 58. "Pivotally mounted uponthe stud 63 1s a locking toggle 64. One end'of the lockingtoggle'64carries aroller 65 as in bearing 65 The roller is adapted to engage and,slide along an inclined surface 66 when the locking toggle moves towardits locking posit-ion until the longitudinal eentre'or axial line of thetoggle member 64 passes beyond the inclined surface 66, whereupon theroller 65 will engage the wall 67 of the vertical slot 68in thekingbolt"and form a lock for said king bolt, thus preventing the same from beingmoved towards the left, as seen in Figures 9, 11,13, that is,

preventing said king boltfrom being moved.

fromits lockingposition, In order to normally maintain the lockingtoggle 64in locked position for the door locks and inunlockedpositionfor the motor locks, the cross ni'eln- 1 her 5%) of the king boltisfformed with an overhanging extension 69 whichreceives the hear:-

ing of a spring 70' and permits it to slide along toggle 64 when thebolt is actuated; Theten-l sion of this spring is exerted, on the tailend 5 portion of the locking toggle to rock the look ing end of thetoggle in locking'position forthedoor'locks and out of locking positionfor f for the, motor, locks. Extending vertically through the verticalslot 68-:in'the king bolt is a connection 71 forextension of thearmature of the locking magnet '72, thesaidextension 71 being pinnedorotherwisesuitablylcom nectedto the locking toggle 64. whenthe magnet72 is energized, the armature 73'of the magnetis drawn downwardly,thereby pulling the locking end of thelocki'ng toggle 64' out of lockingposition and releasingthe kingbolt in the controller locks. Hence theunlocked king-bolt may be withdrawn from the locking engagement with thedisc or wheel 54 on the control shaft when power'is applied to saidshaft to rotate the wheel 54 therein.

The armature 73 of the lock magnet is drawn bolt in the door locks, butlooking the king For this purpose the core 74 is mounted upon or carriedby an adjusting screw 75. A stop screw 76 forms a limited stop to arrestthe rockingmoveinent of the locking toggle upwardly so as to bring thelongitudinall central axis of'the locking toggle from slightly above thelower edge of the vertical locking wall 67, thereby permitting an easyand quick release of the lock instantaneously with the cnergization ofthe relay magnet.

' In Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6' I have shown the locks 22 and 21 applied tothe control stands 23 and 77. Itisto be understood, of course, thatthese locks may be applied and attached to the control stands in anysuitable or convenient manner, and, therefore, my invention is not to belimited or restricted in respect 7 torthe method of attaching thelocking devices to the stands, the essential feature being that thecontrol shafts in said stands shall carry or have carried orotherwiseconnectedthereto the cam wheels or discs indicated at 54disposed and arranged in co-operative relation with respect to the kingbolt and the locking toggle and operating connection and mechanismtherefor;

While I have shown and described my inventionas applied to looks formotor controllers and door controllers of street cars, it

is,of course, tobe understood that my invention'is not to belimi-ted orrestricted 'in respecttothese purposes as a locking mechanism and acentrifu'gally operated control therefor is equally well adapted for usein a great many other relations and situations, such, for example, asthe locking of the throttle of a steam'locomotive. to prevent actuationthereof until all the doors for example on the train have been closed,thus securing greater safety of operation of railway trains andpreventing accidents occurring through untimelyor prematurely startingof the car ortrain.. v i r 1 r The pendulum weight" 48 suspended uponthehead 45 of the pin 44 permits me to eliminate the usual commutatorring structure employed in'like situationswhile at the same timepermitting rotation of the shaft'15 and of the circuit breaker deviceWithout interfe'ring with the terminal connection Of'tlie circuitconductor.

Variations and changes in the details ofi structure will readily occurto persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spiritiai'idscope of my invention. I do not desire therefore to belimited orrestricted to the exact detailsshown and described but I have set forththe objects and the nature of my in 'vention and a constructionembodying the principles thereof. What-I claim is new'and useful and ofmy own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a carhaying a driving motor therefor, the combination with a car door, and

means for opening and closing the same, of

an electrically operated locking device for locking said means againstoperation, a cirj cuit for said device including a source of current,said locking device being released when current is supplied thereto, anormally open.

switch included in said circuit, a magnet for controlling said switchwhereby when said magnet is energized said switch is closed,'and

means on theniotor shaft actuated'by the motor coming to a full stop forenergizing said'magnet to thereby renderoperative said locking device.

2. In a car having a driving motor, the

combination with a car door and meansfor opening and closing the same,of an electri cally operated locking device for locking said meansagainst operation, a circuit for said device including a source ofcurrent,"said locking device being, released when'current is suppliedthereto, a normally open switchincluded in said circuit, a magnet .forcontrollingsaid switch whereby when said mag net is energized saidswitch is closed, a' 'cen trifugally actuated circuit breaker attachedto the motor controlled by theinovement of said motor for controllingsaid magnet centr fugal circuit whereby when said breaker is at restsaid magnet is energized,

, 3. In an electrically operated car, the'combination'with a car door,means'for opening and closingthesame, said means being operable onlywhen the car is stationary, a motor controller for controlling theoperation of the car, and electrical means for lockin and retaininglocked saidinotor control er when said door is open and the car is atrest, said.

locking means being energized through a circuit completed by a switchclosed by the door when in open position. In testimony whereof I havehereuntoosetmy hand on this 18th day of August, A. D.

GEORGE IYASHINGTO N M EYERS'.

